Lexapro and Dizziness: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 13, 2015

For Anxiety "I have been on 10 mg of Lexapro for 3 days. Day one: I was really dizzy and couldn't keep my eyes open. Day two was awful. I kept throwing up a few hours after taking it. It felt like a hangover and flu mixed. Everything hurt. By the end of day 2, I noticed I wasn't spending my day planning, thinking, and breaking down tiny details. I was in the moment. It was a little boring at times, but it was extremely refreshing. It was amazing to want to go do things without having to make sure everything was thought of. There were no rushes of chest pains. I felt like I should tell everyone how wonderful it was not to be consumed by thought. Day three: light dizziness and sore muscles, and light anxiety after an argument and a concert. I have very high hopes now."

• Mum...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 6, 2016

For Anxiety "I've always been an anxious person. Usually, I find my anxiety serves me well to stay on top of a busy household, but occasionally the anxiety is destructive instead, like after the birth of a child or during difficult times. I'd had a horrid couple of years, nursing my mum to the end from cancer, and eventually, it caught up with me: panic attacks, health anxiety, obsession with breathing, palpitations constantly. I went straight onto 20 mg as I had been on this drug briefly a decade ago. The first 24 hours were weird, dizzy, disoriented, mildly nauseous, and a huge panic attack. I only slept 3 hours a night for the first 2-3 days. By week 3, I sleep 8 hours a night, have energy during the day, and zero anxiety. I feel great! Lexapro is great, but be patient."

• Ros...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 25, 2017

For Anxiety "I'm someone that has been generally anxious for my whole life, with spells of depression sprinkled in. Recently, I thought I had been improving with my anxiety, but then I had a panic attack, out of the blue, with no rhyme or reason; it just happened. I was afraid this would affect my work, so I finally pushed myself to see a psychiatrist, who suggested that Lexapro would be an appropriate option. I started taking it and had some nasty side effects (no appetite, nausea, slight dizziness, jitters, tenseness) for the first two days, but after that, I noticed how well it was working. My anxiety has lessened immensely, and it's giving me a second chance I never knew I wanted. I'm still in the first week of trying it, but it's worked excellently so far!"

• cat...
• August 5, 2014

For Depression "I started this medication at a very low dose and experienced nausea, lethargy, and dizziness. My doctor told me this was a good sign that the medication was working. I then started to lose control over my thinking and could not focus. My doctor told me this was a symptom of depression and to up the dose of the medication. The nausea never went away, and the doctor told me the nausea was anxiety and to up the dose of the medication. I was so sick and tired I was unable to be active or engaged. The doctor told me this was major depressive disorder. Finally, I told my doctor I would no longer take the medication and he gave me a plan for tapering. I experienced extreme dizziness, nausea, and hysterical crying. I now feel so much better."

• cat...
• August 5, 2014

For Depression "I started this medication at a very low dose and experienced nausea, lethargy, and dizziness. My doctor told me this was a good sign that the medication was working. I then started to lose control over my thinking and could not focus. My doctor told me this was a symptom of depression and to up the dose of the medication. The nausea never went away, and the doctor told me the nausea was anxiety and to up the dose of the medication. I was so sick and tired I was unable to be active or engaged. The doctor told me this was major depressive disorder. Finally, I told my doctor I would no longer take the medication and he gave me a plan for tapering. I experienced extreme dizziness, nausea, and hysterical crying. I now feel so much better."

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 29, 2015

For Anxiety "Incredible medication. I don't wake up in a panic anymore, whereas it was occurring almost daily before. The first few days for me were hell, but I just slept through the headache, nausea, and dizziness, and now it's one of the best things that's ever happened for me regarding my anxiety disorder and panic disorder. Reduced daily anxiety equals less panic attacks. Lexapro is awesome."

• Dsm...
• January 16, 2009

For Anxiety "For the first week on Lexapro, I felt weird; a little lightheaded, dizzy, had insomnia and some minor stomach issues but I stuck it out and I'm so glad I did. I have been taking it for 5 weeks now. I take Lexapro around 10 am now as this helps prevent insomnia at night. I feel more energetic, happier and more social. I don't feel out of control or strange or anything. No side effects now. I would highly recommend it to anyone to try this."

• Sue...
• September 21, 2020

For Depression "Have been on Lexapro for approximately 2 years. The side effects came slowly. The past few months, could barely get out of bed, suffered from vertigo, no motivation to do anything, sat on the couch most of the day. I am weaning myself off the medication right now. The change is amazing. I have energy, I look forward to getting up in the morning. We'll discuss with the doctor and alternative. I take bupropion, so I should be okay."

• Jum...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 11, 2019

For Anxiety "I have been on other SSRIs, which were ineffective, however, I found Lexapro to be intolerable. Other SSRIs had their minor side effects for the first couple of weeks, such as strange dreams and nausea, however, Lexapro wreaked havoc on me from day one. Just four hours after taking my first 10 mg dose (at 8 am), I wanted to vomit, was very dizzy, and felt confused and disoriented. I also had an extremely dry mouth. By 5 pm that evening, my anxiety had gotten ten times worse, and I suffered the absolutely WORST panic attack I have ever had in my life. My panic was so bad I briefly passed out. Everyone reacts differently to different drugs, so this is just my experience. However, I personally find this to be the worst SSRI in terms of side effects, which are intolerable."

• So...
• December 12, 2016

For Depression "I have only been taking Lexapro for about 3-4 weeks, but it seems to work for me so far. I started this medicine due to very bad panic attacks and depression. I have only had one very minor panic attack since, and it was within the first few days of taking it. I find it a lot easier to calm myself down now, and my panic attacks don't spiral. I used to have crying episodes that would last hours, and I have not cried once since I started Lexapro. Side effects: I have had some headaches and muscle tension, and I can feel quite dizzy and foggy sometimes, but as long as it keeps my panic attacks away, I really don't mind. I felt nauseous the first few days, but it went away quickly."

• poo...
• April 14, 2016

For Anxiety "I have been taking Lexapro 10 mgs for nearly 4 months because of anxiety and mild depression. I had about 5 days at first with some dizziness and nausea; after that, things smoothed out. Almost immediately, it cured my insomnia by 95%. I take it in the morning. In the past, if I woke up at night, my thoughts would turn to things that kept me from falling asleep again. As far as anxiety, I am not worrying about things at work so much. I still have some social and anticipatory anxiety, but it is somewhat better than before. Depression is much better; I frequently have a warm feeling of happiness and everything will be alright. Before, I felt distressed and flat about the future. So, I would definitely recommend a trial with this medication."

• Lex...
• September 17, 2015

For Anxiety "I have been dealing with general and situational anxiety disorder and panic attacks on and off since college. Tried Paxil and Prozac. Paxil made me gain 20 lbs., and Prozac increased my anxiety. Lexapro works. My advice: Try taking Lexapro for at least one week. The first week you will feel tired, dizzy, and mildly nauseated. Those effects disappear very quickly. Do start at 5 mg and slowly increase to 10 or 20 mg. Ask your doctor to supplement with Buspar XL, which counteracts most Lexapro side effects and further helps control anxiety and panic attacks. I don't recommend using Lexapro without Buspar. Anxiety/panic will gradually disappear over two to four weeks. Use Ativan or other benzodiazepines sparingly until Lexapro is working."

• Lit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 11, 2018

For Anxiety "I have just started my round of Auro-Escitalopram, and I am on day 5 of my 5 mg half-tab before going on a full 10 mg tablet. I take my medication at night time. The first 3 days were sort of rough; I felt different. I could not put my finger on why, but I felt a bit sedated, a little odd, and definitely felt “drugged.” I had a mild headache, some dizziness, and I felt like I was going to faint. My appetite has diminished, my stomach was upset, I am also gassy, and I had some dry mouth. The first 3 nights I was also met with mild restlessness, and it was hard for me to sleep longer than 5 hours. I woke up at 3 AM and was peeing like crazy. With that being said, the side effects have subsided somewhat after day 5, and I am starting to notice that I can start to control my racing thoughts. I get tired at bedtime like a normal human being, and I can finally wake up in the morning without feeling like a zombie."

• C19...
• July 12, 2013

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I am on my 9th day of taking 5 mg of Lexapro, and I feel much calmer than I normally would be. I had horrible headaches and dizziness at first. It's starting to get better, and I'm starting to feel normal and relaxed. It's working great so far for me."

• gla...
• November 9, 2011

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I am 43 years old, and after my son left for college 6 years ago, my life felt like it was spinning out of control. I was so sad. Then my daughter left for college (my last), and I knew I needed help. I had anxiety and sadness each day, and I let it go on for way too long because I thought those feelings were normal and I would eventually pop out of it. I was wrong. I went to my gynecologist 3 months ago and cried the whole visit. She prescribed 10 mg of Lexapro, and I cannot begin to tell you how much I feel like me again. The only side effects were a headache and dizziness. I cut to 5 mg for the first week and now 10. Love it! Don't be afraid to talk to your doctor."

• Ems...
• November 9, 2014

For Major Depressive Disorder "I was a very emotional teenager and couldn't handle small problems. After trauma around the age of 17, I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder, anxiety, mood swings, and a personality disorder. I started taking escitalopram 10, and of course, the first weeks were still as bad as before or even worse, but for me, it felt like I was already in hell. After a month, I felt great! Just a clear head, stable, no running thoughts or emotions, and just happy and peaceful. After one and a half years, I quit drop by drop in a time lapse of 3 months, but I had to start again because all the symptoms came back. It is really hard to just start taking again or to admit you need it. All side effects are, in my opinion, way nicer than uncontrollable emotions."

• Vio...
• July 16, 2019

For Anxiety "I have been using Lexapro for almost 2 months now, and the change has been amazing. I had suffered from anxiety and depression for most of my life, and my doctor prescribing this medication has been a lifesaver for me. I used to have episodes of crying, extreme depression, and suicidal thoughts, but all those have gone away or diminished to the point where they're basically nonexistent. I feel like I can handle life and its minor irritations with so much more confidence now, more than I have ever in the past. I still have issues, and every day is still a battle at times, but I don't know what I would do if I hadn't started on this medication. I'm lucky the only side effect I get is dizziness here and there, and I have gained about 4 or 5 lb, which I'm trying to keep hold of and not let that get out of hand. Otherwise, I'm extremely happy!"

• bob...
• March 14, 2015

For Depression "Lexapro has worked well for me. My anxiety and depression are about gone. The first 2 months were pretty bad, and I almost quit many times, but I am glad I didn't. Side effects included night sweats, tinnitus, headaches, insomnia, sexual issues, dizziness. Most of this has resolved now after 3 months. Adding a B complex with folate and omega-3 seems to have helped me. This is a very good drug for anxiety and depression, but you'll need to be very patient and struggle through the initial side effects."

• Flo...
• September 29, 2019

For Anxiety "I was recently diagnosed with anxiety disorder, and my doctor prescribed me Lexapro. I took this medicine only three times because of all the side effects I had. Not only did it make me feel weird and out of touch with reality, I had many other symptoms, including dizziness, sweating, anxiety, headaches, and nausea. I couldn’t sleep at night, and I also felt very psychedelic when I took it. My pupils were huge, and I almost felt like I was tripping. I kept unintentionally clenching my jaw really hard, and I couldn’t get comfortable. I threw up multiple times and couldn’t eat without feeling sick. I immediately discontinued taking it and don’t plan to try anything else. I was wary about taking an SSRI to begin with due to being a very natural person with no intention of taking something that would affect my brain in an unnatural way. Although this did not work for me, I know it works for others and has been life-changing for people."

• Djb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 21, 2021

For Anxiety "I have had anxiety my entire life, but for the most part, I have managed it on my own. My therapist prescribed Lexapro 5mg and then worked up to 10mg. The side effects I experienced at first were nausea, headaches, and absolutely terrible restless insomnia. Then, after increasing my dose a month into taking it, I had an absolutely terrible experience. I had terrible intrusive thoughts that were completely against who I am. I had panic attacks that went on for days. I couldn’t sleep or eat. I was a different person, I felt like I had lost my mind and myself completely. It was the most terrifying experience I’ve ever had. I immediately stopped taking it, and then the withdrawal began. The intense brain-zapping feeling, the dizziness, the continuing anxiety attacks, the nightmares, the insomnia…. I feel like I was just pumping my body with poison. I will never take another medication again."

• Ray...
• April 24, 2013

For Anxiety "I suffered from anxiety disorder for 5 years without knowing what it was, and after seeing numerous doctors and undergoing numerous medical tests and scans, it all came to naught. The symptoms were very vague and debilitating, such as overall weakness, trembling, dizziness, and even the simplest chore of lifting a pen resulted in strange feelings in the body. Finally, a doc gave me Lexapro 10 mg, and my life was saved! Since then, I have taken Lexapro (6 months) and stopped, and it has relapsed twice, and the longest time I survived without Lexapro was 1.5 years. Now I believe I have anxiety disorder and need help, and Lexapro really helps."

• IRE...
• July 19, 2015

For Anxiety "I started to get anxiety when I went back to work. I was prescribed Lexapro by my doctor and started 3 days ago. A lot of the reviews say to keep sticking with it, so I plan to. As far as the side effects, I get the nausea and dizziness, but it's not so severe that I can't function. I do, however, feel like I'm constantly zoning out and just staring out into space sometimes. I do notice I yawn a lot too, and my lower jaw feels really tense all the time. Does anyone else have this problem? I'm going to keep sticking with this drug. There are such good reviews once the side effects subside and your body adjusts to it."

• Sto...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 11, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I've had anxiety and mild depression my whole adult life. In my mid-thirties, I finally decided I needed help dealing with my anxiety. I tried many meds and had way too many side effects, I finally tried this and was glad I did! This one by far had the least side effects and made my anxiety and depression much more manageable! We tried 5 mg to start, then increased to 10 mg and had to go back to 5 mg. I still had some mild anxiety but was able to work through it. Fast forward a few years ago, I was weaned off, and now anxiety is back. The doctor put me on Buspirone after going urgent with a panic attack and gave me a few clonazepam to get me through for a few days. Buspirone seemed to help the first few weeks at 7.5 bid and prn dose. On week four, it stopped helping and the anxiety came back, and I had stomach issues and mild dizziness as side effects. I'm going back to the doctor in a few days and going to request Lexapro as it helped before with the lowest side effects of all I've tried and was effective in controlling my anxiety and depression."

• Sta...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 27, 2018

For Anxiety "24 years of age, and I've experienced chronic depression, anxiety, OCD, and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) for about the last 12 years. I have been on various medications, and I can say that by taking Lexapro, I'm finally getting my life and self back. Before this medication, my OCD/BDD rituals and thoughts were consuming anywhere from 3 to 10 hours of my day. Since week 2 of this medication, the thoughts and rituals have been less and less. I'm on week 5, and I feel like it's helping more and more each day with anxious, obsessive thoughts and the down moods. I pray this medication continues to work for me because I finally feel like I can be something and accomplish what I've always wanted for myself. I'm so grateful for this medication and the very few side effects I experienced starting this drug (mild headaches, slight dizziness, and dry mouth). Overall, I'm very satisfied with this medication so far."

• SHM...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 20, 2020

For Anxiety "Took this awful med for three months until I could stand it no more. I have regular bouts of anxiety, which I kept at bay for 15 years using Ativan carefully as needed. Unfortunately, after this time, I lost control and had the worst rebound anxiety of my life and had to back out, using Valium. I was put on Lexapro to take its place. After 3 months, I was battling to get out of bed. If I did, it was to the couch. Lost all sex drive and ability. Had no motivation for anything and just laid around all day. Have been off it for a week now, and despite some discomfort with head spins, I feel I have my life back."